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Metaphor and mockery. (Original Post) ZombieHorde Jan 2014 OP
Aha! I finally realize why I am an atheist! Curmudgeoness Jan 2014 #1
I have never done well with authority... rexcat Jan 2014 #2
me either Brainstormy Jan 2014 #5
I spent four years in the US Air Force.... rexcat Jan 2014 #6
Before Mao's Red Book there was the Little Red Song Book, the Wobblie's anthems........ dimbear Jan 2014 #3
I've never had a problem with authority, defacto7 Jan 2014 #4

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
1. Aha! I finally realize why I am an atheist!
Sun Jan 12, 2014, 04:03 PM
Jan 2014

It is that desire to laugh at authority.....I never thought of religion as authority before, but it seems that it is.

rexcat

(3,622 posts)
2. I have never done well with authority...
Sun Jan 12, 2014, 05:42 PM
Jan 2014

but I never considered religion as an authority figure. Maybe my complete disrespect for religion is why I don't pander to religion. Maybe by complete disrespect for religion is based on my anti-authority views. Something to ponder.

Brainstormy

(2,380 posts)
5. me either
Mon Jan 13, 2014, 09:58 AM
Jan 2014

I used to get those little demerit checkmarks for not respecting authority even in grade school. Still, it took most of my life to shake off the shackles of religion.

rexcat

(3,622 posts)
6. I spent four years in the US Air Force....
Mon Jan 13, 2014, 08:26 PM
Jan 2014

during the Viet Nam War. If I had been drafted, a very real proposition considering my draft number, I would have probably ended up going there which was not appealing in any way. The military lifers and I did not get along. The last 18 months I was in was not pleasant! I still have a major dislike of the military.

dimbear

(6,271 posts)
3. Before Mao's Red Book there was the Little Red Song Book, the Wobblie's anthems........
Sun Jan 12, 2014, 06:54 PM
Jan 2014

which you can steal from Wikisource, IIRC, and it contains some lovely mockery. The Preacher and the Slave is by far the most famous, everybody knows it. Our forebears saw right thru religion and weren't afraid to say so, sing so, and in the case of Joe Hill, pay an awful price for it.

defacto7

(13,485 posts)
4. I've never had a problem with authority,
Mon Jan 13, 2014, 01:18 AM
Jan 2014

I can take it or leave it.

But I think religion is past the point of being an authority except in the individual's eyes; it lost that power long ago. The problem is that there are those who would like to restore its authority by undermining human progress and hence take control themselves much like the wealthy and powerful of centuries past. That must be fought at all cost. Poking fun at religion could be beneficial in unmasking the mysticism helping people loosen up to the less than holy nature of it and in doing so they may think for a moment before swallowing the bate making a fool of themselves.

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